Viedma (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbjeðma]) is the capital and fourth largest city of the Río Negro Province, in northern Patagonia, Argentina.

Together with the city of Carmen de Patagones across the river in Buenos Aires Province, Viedma is the oldest European settlement in Patagonia,[2] founded by Francisco de Viedma y Narváez under the name of Nuestra Señora del Carmen on 22 April 1779.

The original fort was built on the south side of the river in modern Viedma, but it was destroyed within a few months.

In 1986, during the presidency of Raúl Alfonsín, a proposal was made to move the federal capital from Buenos Aires to Viedma.

[5] A bill to that effect was passed by Congress the following year, but owing to economic problems, the project had stagnated by the end of the Alfonsín administration in 1989.

[6] The main economical activities in the area of the Valle Inferior are cattle, as well as some agriculture with onion, maize and alfalfa being the most important.

[8] Winters are cool with a July mean of 6.6 °C (43.9 °F) and frosts are common, averaging 9–10 days from June to August.

[9] Nonetheless, high humidity conditions may occasionally be experienced, particularly during early morning and late evening when temperatures are lower.

[11] Summers tend to have fewer rainy days than winter due to rainfall occurring more intensely (shorter bursts).

[12] The Gobernador Castello Airport (IATA: VDM, ICAO: SAVV) serves flights to Buenos Aires, Neuquén, Bariloche, Puerto Madryn, Trelew, Comodoro Rivadavia, Mar del Plata, and other cities in Argentina.